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Monday, November 09, 2009

Miles: Stripped-down GM meetings set to open at O’Hare

As if Larry David stripped down to his jocketty wasn’t enough…

With a nod toward the tough economy, baseball’s general managers will give up opulence and luxury for practicality when they convene for their annual meetings, beginning today at O’Hare.

Instead of resorts, golf games and lavish dinners, the GMs figure barely to see the sunshine as they hole up at the nation’s hub airport for a quick gathering that will end at about noon Wednesday.

In addition to the regular business discussions and undoubtedly more talk of instant replay, the GMs figure to mix in a little trade talk.

...Could Hendry package Bradley and prospects for Halladay? Bradley could thrive in the relatively quiet environs of Toronto, and Halladay would provide an instant jolt to the Cubs’ rotation.

A deal isn’t likely this week, but GM meetings can be the place to put the wheels in motion. Hendry and assistant GM Randy Bush will be heading to O’Hare fresh off the team’s organization meetings in Arizona.

Repoz Posted: November 09, 2009 at 01:54 PM | 39 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: cubs, special topics, white sox

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1. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: November 09, 2009 at 02:06 PM (#3382772)

2. Mattbert Posted: November 09, 2009 at 02:07 PM (#3382773)

Yeah, that's exactly what the Jays need: an unreliable outfielder with a bad contract.

EDIT: Pops is right. The heck with the prospects, and the Jays should throw in some cash for salary relief on Halladay's presumed extension as well.

3. TerpNats Posted: November 09, 2009 at 03:17 PM (#3382815)

Could Hendry package Bradley and prospects for Halladay?

And could the Jays be dumb enough to accept that deal? In either case, I'd say no.

4. RJ in TO Posted: November 09, 2009 at 03:31 PM (#3382827)

Could Hendry package Bradley and prospects for Halladay?

Only if the Cubs also take Wells off of the Jays' hands.

I'm not familiar with this columnist. Does he normally make statements this dumb?

5. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: November 09, 2009 at 03:49 PM (#3382834)

I'm not familiar with this columnist. Does he normally make statements this dumb?

Perhaps by prospects he means "Toronto gets the pick of any ten players not on Chicago's 25 man roster", b/c that's about the only way this works.

6. zfan Posted: November 09, 2009 at 03:54 PM (#3382840)

No, Bruce doesn't make a lot of dumb statements.

Maybe if the "prospects" are named Randy Wells and Geovany Soto, but even then I doubt it.

7. Let the bears pay the bear tax, I pay the Homer ta Posted: November 09, 2009 at 04:35 PM (#3382890)

"...Could Hendry package Bradley and prospects for Halladay? Bradley could thrive in the relatively quiet environs of Toronto, and Halladay would provide an instant jolt to the Cubs’ rotation."

This is retarded on such a level it makes every synapse in my brain cry out for sweet, sweet death.

8. Freeballin' (Tales of Met Power) Posted: November 09, 2009 at 04:41 PM (#3382897)

If Toronto did send Wells to Chicago with Halladay, isn't that a good deal for them?

9. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: November 09, 2009 at 04:42 PM (#3382898)

Well, how about a three-way deal, where the Yankees send...jeeze, I don't know...a resigned Johnny Damon to the Cubs for Bradley, and then send Bradley to the Jays for Halladay. That seems fair.

10. RJ in TO Posted: November 09, 2009 at 04:48 PM (#3382904)

If Toronto did send Wells to Chicago with Halladay, isn't that a good deal for them?

11. Gamingboy Posted: November 09, 2009 at 04:50 PM (#3382905)

LaGuardia and LAX are disappointed at this snub.

12. SteveM. Posted: November 09, 2009 at 04:51 PM (#3382906)

Bruce Miles is actually one of the best baseball writers around. I would be intrigued in picking up Halliday even if that meant taking Wells and his contract, assuming you could sign him to an extension.

13. Cris E Posted: November 09, 2009 at 04:55 PM (#3382914)

...even if that meant taking Wells and his contract, assuming you could sign him to an extension.

I initially read that as saying they'd only take Wells if they could extend his contract. I'm feeling better now.

14. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: November 09, 2009 at 05:00 PM (#3382920)

"LaGuardia and LAX are disappointed at this snub."

They should try Pittsburgh's airport sometime.

Seriously, it's awesome. There's a dinosaur skeleton and everything.

15. Jeff K. Posted: November 09, 2009 at 05:10 PM (#3382936)

Only if Toronto would reinvest the combined $35M per season of savings back into the team, which seems doubtful, and assuming that fan support (and revenues) doesn't crater with the trading of Halladay (and Wells) for no on-field return.

And, don't forget, only assuming that there are players out there to be signed for $35 million that will outproduce Wells/Halladay.

16. retro-shiite Posted: November 09, 2009 at 05:16 PM (#3382945)

...Could Hendry package Bradley and prospects for Halladay? Bradley could thrive in the relatively quiet environs of Toronto, and Halladay would provide an instant jolt to the Cubs’ rotation.

This is like shooting fish in a barrel, but no, the Cubs don't have that kind of package to offer, no, the Jays wouldn't do it, and while Halladay's awesome and the Cubs (and any other team) would obviously be improved by his presence, the phrasing makes it sound like the Cub rotation's a point of weakness, which it isn't. (The offense is the weakness they should be addressing, especially if they're hellbent on trading Bradley.)

17. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: November 09, 2009 at 05:19 PM (#3382949)

retro:

Unless the Cubs then turn around and trade a Zambrano. Now THAT would be a bold move by Hendry. Empty the reserves to get Halladay then trade Zambrano for some bat(s).

18. retro-shiite Posted: November 09, 2009 at 05:23 PM (#3382956)

Intriguing idea, Harv. Whether or not it improved the team, it'd probably be the single biggest unloading of headcases (perceived or actual) in major league history.

Let's unpack the hypo,though--what would Zambrano bring in trade?

EDIT: One could snark that they'd be hurting their offense as much by trading Z as by trading Bradley...

19. Home Run Teal & Black Black Black Gone! Posted: November 09, 2009 at 05:23 PM (#3382957)

I am continuously shocked that columnists don't run these silly trade suggestions by a fan of the other team or any neutral baseball nerd party in general.

[leans over to next cubicle]

Bruce: Hey Dick.

Dick: [finishes chewing sandwich] What Bruce?

Bruce: You're a Jays fan, right?

Dick: ...no, I'm a White Sox fan. Jesus Bruce I cover their beat.

Bruce: Oh. Okay. Listen, would the Jays trade Halladay for Bradley?

Dick: [pause] No. No they would not.

Bruce: Oh. You sure? What if the Cubs threw in some prospects?

Dick: They don't have any.

Bruce: Oh.

[Dick takes a bite of his sandwich, Bruce sinks back down in his cubicle]

20. retro-shiite Posted: November 09, 2009 at 05:26 PM (#3382960)

The Cubs aren't completely prospect-free, though what they've got is at the lower levels.

21. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: November 09, 2009 at 05:43 PM (#3382983)

What about Vitters? I seem to recall he struggled with injuries in 2009, but does he still have any value?

22. Hack Wilson Posted: November 09, 2009 at 06:20 PM (#3383045)

What about Vitters?

The good news is thst Vitters hit more homers than he drew walks in 2009, the bad news he had only had 12 walks (458 ABs).

23. OCD SS Posted: November 09, 2009 at 06:52 PM (#3383093)

They should try Pittsburgh's airport sometime.

Seriously, it's awesome. There's a dinosaur skeleton and everything.

I was at some airport years ago that had rocking chairs all over the place. That would be great for GM meetings. Very folksy.

24. OCD SS Posted: November 09, 2009 at 06:52 PM (#3383094)

But I have no idea where it was.

25. Swedish Chef Posted: November 09, 2009 at 06:54 PM (#3383101)

So where's the next meeting, the Port Authority Bus Terminal?

26. RJ in TO Posted: November 09, 2009 at 06:57 PM (#3383108)

But I have no idea where it was.

I believe that's Charlotte, NC.

27. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: November 09, 2009 at 07:05 PM (#3383122)

So where's the next meeting, the Port Authority Bus Terminal?

Hey, they've upgraded a ton. They've even got a pretty nice bowling alley.

It used to be crazy scary/disgusting.

28. Jeff K. Posted: November 09, 2009 at 07:12 PM (#3383141)

Bruce: Oh. Okay. Listen, would the Jays trade Halladay for Bradley?

Dick: Ed?

29. Sean Forman Posted: November 09, 2009 at 07:24 PM (#3383162)

They should try Pittsburgh's airport sometime.

Seriously, it's awesome. There's a dinosaur skeleton and everything.

You haven't been to O'Hare, have you?

30. zonk Posted: November 09, 2009 at 07:29 PM (#3383173)

This is like shooting fish in a barrel, but no, the Cubs don't have that kind of package to offer, no, the Jays wouldn't do it, and while Halladay's awesome and the Cubs (and any other team) would obviously be improved by his presence, the phrasing makes it sound like the Cub rotation's a point of weakness, which it isn't. (The offense is the weakness they should be addressing, especially if they're hellbent on trading Bradley.)

Don't they?

We've seen 2 high priced aces get traded in the last year for packages quite a bit lower than most would have thought. It's certainly true that the Cubs don't have a lot of ready/close to ready major league talent -- unless you include Randy Wells, but the farm isn't completely barren.

I don't know that I'd take Vernon on in a trade, though...

31. Gamingboy Posted: November 09, 2009 at 07:41 PM (#3383195)

So where's the next meeting, the Port Authority Bus Terminal?

No, next year it will be done on a moving Amtrak train.

32. Tripon Posted: November 09, 2009 at 07:43 PM (#3383199)

Next year, they will meet on a sinking boat.

33. retro-shiite Posted: November 09, 2009 at 07:47 PM (#3383201)

It used to be crazy scary/disgusting.

Don't know about Port Authority, but the grossest public head I've ever seen, by far, was in Penn Station.

34. Lassus Posted: November 09, 2009 at 07:50 PM (#3383205)

It used to be crazy scary/disgusting.

As opposed to just disgusting? Seriously, I still take the bus, that place is still a hole.

Don't know about Port Authority, but the grossest public head I've ever seen, by far, was in Penn Station.

Port Authority makes Penn look like Grand Central.

But I have no idea where it was.
I believe that's Charlotte, NC.

Charlotte may have these, but I wonder if you mean the Asheville/Henderson Municipal Airport (in Fletcher), which definitely seemed to have a lot of rocking chairs. And not a lot of people.

35. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: November 09, 2009 at 07:56 PM (#3383213)

As opposed to just disgusting? Seriously, I still take the bus, that place is still a hole.

Oh it'll always be a hole, but it no longer has the "Night of the Living Dead" feel.

Don't know about Port Authority, but the grossest public head I've ever seen, by far, was in Penn Station.

Don't use Penn, but there was recently an article in the paper about a big bathroom renovation there. Millions of $. Aparently they even have attendants now.

The bathrooms at Grand Central are actually quite decent. Better than most bars, and some restaurants.

36. BringBackTimTeufel Posted: November 09, 2009 at 11:34 PM (#3383505)

CLT does have the rocking chairs. Beautiful airport, probably too high quality for the likes of Ohno Minaya.

37. rlc Posted: November 09, 2009 at 11:51 PM (#3383520)

Singapore has a great airport, and it's about equidistant from all the cities in MLB. Plus, the press knows not to print anything too stupid lest the government lock them up.

38. jwb Posted: November 10, 2009 at 05:19 PM (#3384041)

"Stripped down?" There are some establishments on Mannheim Road which can help them out with that. . .

39. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: November 10, 2009 at 05:38 PM (#3384050)

"You haven't been to O'Hare, have you?"

Once. Seemed nice enough, though I didn't see any dinosaurs.

Mostly what I remember were the eleventy hojillion people there at the same time as me.

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Miles: Stripped-down GM meetings set to open at O’Hare

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